Philipsburg:--- Mrs. Elisabeth Frederick's the stateless woman who just recently turned to the media for help after fighting her battle to obtain an identity were among those who witnessed the first ever naturalization ceremony on St. Maarten yesterday. The woman and her six children, with four minors and her 20 year old daughter made sure they see the Island Lt. Governor to explain their plight of not having an identity. Mrs. Federicks who is now suffering from ill health said she basically wants to know where she stands since she basically has run out of patience. She said she has lived on St. Maarten for over 25 years and has fully integrated into the system, while her children was born on the island and still not been able to obtain a nationality and passport an essential document.
Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards personally told the elderly woman that since reading her story which was published in one of the daily newspapers he has sent on a request to the immigration and naturalization services requesting information as to how he should proceed with the woman's file. One of the core issues is the woman does not have a birth certificate and neither does she know where she was born. Richards said while in the Netherlands he personally studied cases of the stateless, which he knew took years of hard work before those persons who are just like Mrs. Federicks to obtain their rights. He said the case of Federicks is very complicated since local authorities do not know where and when the mother of three was born. However, despite that Richards said he has placed the case of Mrs. Federicks in the hands of one of his experts who are now his legal advisor. This person he said is specialized in this type of work since she has worked in the Immigration and Naturalization services in the Netherlands.
The desperate mother told Richards that she has to leave the island for medical purposes but her greatest fear is to leave her children in this predicament, and she wants to know how long more she has to wait for an answer. Richards said despite having someone looking into the case he cannot give the woman any special hope since he simply does not know how to handle the case.
He said in the case of her children they are looking into the possibility of granting them their rights based on an option procedures since they were born and lived all their lives on St. Maarten.
"Right now we are looking to establish your identity as well as the children, while we want to begin this process there is vital information that has to be provided. Furthermore you will be kept informed by the legal department. Richards said.
The woman said while away on medical her 20 year old daughter will be tasked with taking care of her home and other siblings. She said her young son is not able to open a bank account neither her daughter who is now working.
